Make-up case with seal

ABSTRACT

The invention concerns a compact, comprising a lid and an open-work compact body, receiving a product reserve contained in a base cup. It further comprises a sealing joint ( 6 ) fixed to the base cup ( 5 ) and pressed tight on the compact body ( 2 ).

The present invention relates to a make-up case comprising a lid and aholed case body accommodating a reserve of product contained in a cup.

This type of case has the advantage that it makes it possible for thecup to be extracted so that it can be replaced by another, for examplesimply by pushing on its bottom.

This may also make it possible to use a cup which has a flexible bottom,so if necessary to make it easier for product contained in the cup to bewithdrawn by pushing the product up in the cup by exerting pressure onthe bottom of the cup.

The product in the cup may contain volatile solvents and the case mustprevent these solvents from evaporating when the lid is closed, becauseotherwise the product will not keep well.

In the absence of solvents, when the product consists of a powder forexample, there is also benefit to be had in ensuring sealed closure toprevent risk of product leakage.

European patent application EP-A-790,017 has proposed that the case besealed when the lid is closed using a puff which at its periphery has aroll that acts as a seal.

This solution is not entirely satisfactory, and there is a need tofurther improve the sealed closure of the case.

The subject of the invention is thus a case of the type comprising a lidand a holed case body, accommodating a reserve of product contained in acup, this case being characterized in that it comprises a seal securedto the cup and pressing in sealed manner against the case body.

Thus, it is possible to avoid solvents or product escaping from thecase, when the lid is closed, through the hole in the case body in whichthe cup is fitted.

In a particular embodiment, the seal is made as a single piece with thebottom of the cup and from the same material.

It is thus possible to guarantee that the product contained in the cupwill keep very well when the case is closed.

In a particular embodiment, the seal comprises a skirt pressing withfriction against the wall of the housing in the case body in which thecup is accommodated.

The elasticity of the material of which the seal is made thusadvantageously plays a part in holding the cup in place and furthermoremakes it possible to take up any clearance in the mounting or makes itpossible to allow wider manufacturing tolerances on the case body and onthe cup.

Advantageously, the aforementioned skirt has axial ribs distributedaround its periphery, these ribs pressing on the wall of the housing ofthe case body to retain the cup.

In a particular embodiment, the seal presses in sealed manner againstthe wall of the housing of the case body accommodating the cup.

In a particular embodiment, the seal is secured to a rigid plastic ringwhich serves for the attachment of a mesh over the cup.

This mesh is advantageously welded at its periphery to the rigid plasticring.

An annular surface is advantageously formed on the ring around the meshto serve for the attachment of a removable closure sheet.

The seal is advantageously overmoulded onto the ring.

In a particular embodiment, the seal has a flexible lip.

The seal may furthermore comprise, at the base of the flexible lip, aheel which presses in sealed manner against the case body.

The aforementioned flexible lip may press in sealed manner against thecase body.

When such is the case even when the case is open, the sealed manner inwhich the cup is mounted in the case body is improved and product isprevented from getting between the cup and the case body during use, asthis would detract from the appearance of the case.

The build-up of dirt is avoided, and the surface of the case bodybecomes easier to clean.

In one particular embodiment, the flexible lip presses in sealed manneragainst an annular rib projecting from the case body.

This annular rib may, on the one hand, play a part in sealing themounting of the cup in the case body and, on the other hand, encouragethe deformation of the sealing lip around a hinge-forming zone.

Thus, part of the seal can remain substantially the same shapeirrespective of whether the lid is open or closed, while the rest of thesealing lip can flex when the case is closed by virtue of thehinge-forming zone.

In a particular embodiment, the lid comprises an annular rib of largerdiameter than the annular rib of the case body, pressing against theflexible lip when the case is in the closed position.

As an alternative, the lid may, when in the closed position, press viaits periphery on the flexible lip of the seal.

The seal thus plays a part not only in sealing the mounting of the cupin the case body but also seals the case when the lid is closed.

In a particular embodiment, the annular rib of the lid presses on theflexible lip without substantially compressing its free end.

It is thus possible to reduce the risk of the sealing lip beingexcessively compressed by the lid and, in the event of long-termstorage, losing memory of its initial shape.

In a particular embodiment, the lid comprises concentric annular ribs,of respective diameters smaller than and greater than that of theannular rib projecting from the case body, and which press against theflexible lip one on each side of the rib of the case body.

In a particular embodiment, the seal comprises a peripheral part whichhas the overall shape of an inverted U, comprising two arms housed in agroove of the case body and connected by an outwardly convex roundedpart.

In a particular embodiment, the lid comprises a projecting element,preferably a seal, which via its lower end presses against theaforementioned rounded part.

In a particular embodiment, the seal comprises a peripheral part whichin cross section has undulations and presses in sealed manner via alower ridge against the case body.

In a particular embodiment, the seal defines two grooves facing towardsthe case body, the grooves lying one on each side of a central groovefacing towards the lid when the case is closed, the seal comprising, atthe bottom of the grooves that face towards the case body, rests mouldedintegrally with the seal, these rests resting against the case body.

In a particular embodiment, the lid comprises an annular rib whichengages in the central groove when the case is closed.

In a particular embodiment, the seal comprises a peripheral part whichin cross section has a shape that is concave towards the case body, andone or more stiffening elements is or are provided inside the concavepart.

In a particular embodiment, the seal comprises a number of stiffeningelements extending radially and moulded integrally with the rest of theseal.

As an alternative, the seal comprises a stiffening element in the formof a continuous or discontinuous annular rib extending over the entireheight of the peripheral part of the seal with a concave shape in crosssection.

A further subject of the invention is a case characterized in that oneout of the lid or the body of the case comprises at least one kidneybean slot and in that the other out of the lid or the body of the casecomprises a hinge pin engaged in the slot, the arrangement of the slotand of the hinge pin being such that when the lid is closed, the hingepin can move in the slot so that the lid presses substantially uniformlyagainst the seal.

Yet a further subject of the invention is seals for a make-up case ofthe type comprising a case body and a lid, these seals exhibiting thespecific features mentioned above.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become clearfrom reading the detailed description which will follow, of non-limitingembodiments of the invention, and from examining the appended drawing,in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic sectioned view of a make-up case in accordancewith a first embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 2 is a partial and diagrammatic view in section on sectioning lineII—II of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic sectioned view of a make-up case in accordancewith a second embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic sectioned view of a make-up case in accordancewith a third embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic sectioned view of a make-up case in accordancewith a fourth embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic sectioned view of a make-up case in accordancewith a fifth embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 7 depicts a detail of the case in accordance with the fifthembodiment illustrated in FIG. 6,

FIGS. 8 to 22 depict various ways of achieving sealing with the lid,

FIGS. 23 to 25 illustrate a particular embodiment of the hinge by meansof which the lid can be articulated to the body of the case.

FIG. 1 depicts a make-up case 1 comprising a case body 2 and a lid 3articulated thereto. The case body 2 is holed in its central part toform a cylindrical housing 4 housing a cup 5 containing a reserve ofproduct P.

The cup 5 carries a seal 6 which seals its mounting in the case body 2.

In the embodiment described, the seal 6 comprises an annular flexiblelip 7 of roughly semicircular cross section, the concave side of whichfaces towards the case body 2.

This flexible lip 7 is connected to a heel 8, itself extended downwardsby a skirt 9 which connects to the bottom 10 of the cup.

In the embodiment described, the flexible lip 7, the heel 8, the skirt 9and the bottom 10 are made as a single piece of elastomer, the heel 8and the skirt 9 furthermore being overmoulded onto a ring 11 made of arelatively rigid plastic.

This ring 11 has a body which is cylindrical overall, ending at itsupper end in a rim 12 which points radially outwards, surmounting theheel 8 and serving for the attachment of a mesh 13, the latter beingwelded at is periphery to the rim 12.

The cup 5 comprises a block of foam 16 resting on an annular rib 14forming a projection from the interior face of the bottom 10.

The block of foam 16 has a diameter tailored to that of the body of thering 11 and acts somewhat like a piston to drive the product P throughthe mesh 13 when the user presses on the bottom 10.

In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the free end 18 of the flexible lip 7extends as far as a short distance from the upper face 17 of the casebody 2, and the mounting of the cup 5 in the case body 2 is sealed bymeans of the heel 8 which presses in sealed manner against the case body2.

The lid 3 is designed in such a way that its edge 19 presses in sealedmanner against the flexible lip 7 when the case is closed, causing thislip to flex downwards slightly without it, however, being compressedagainst the case body.

The skirt 9 is provided on its periphery with axial ribs 20, as can beseen in FIG. 2, which ribs ensure that the cup is held by friction inthe case body and allow relatively wide manufacturing tolerances on thecase body or on the cup.

In an alternative form which has not been depicted, an annular surfaceis formed on the rim 12 around the mesh 13 and serves for theattachment, by thermal welding, for example, of a removable sealedclosure which is removed at the time of first use once the cup has beenmounted in the case body.

In what follows of the description, the same reference symbols may beused to denote elements which are identical or similar and which willnot be described again in detail.

The case depicted in FIG. 3 differs from the one depicted in FIG. 1 inthe structure of the cup accommodated in the housing 4, which bears thereference 25.

The cup 25 bears a seal 26 which has an annular flexible lip 27connected to a skirt 28.

The lip 27 and the skirt 28 are made as a single piece of elastomer, theskirt 28 furthermore being overmoulded onto the interior face of a ring29 made of a relatively rigid plastic.

This ring 29 is force-fitted in the housing 4 of the case body 2 and itslower end has an annular rim 30 pointing radially inwards.

A second ring 31 which may be made of the same material as the firstring is inserted inside the skirt 28 and at its upper end has a rim 32which serves for the attachment of the mesh 13.

A flexible bottom 34 is fixed at its periphery, for example byovermoulding, onto the lower face of the rim 30.

The ring 31 presses at its lower end on the rim 30.

The flexible lip 27 in cross section has a substantially semi-circularshape and presses, via its free edge 36, against the upper face 17 ofthe case body 2, so that the cup 25 is mounted in sealed manner in thecase.

The lid 3 presses via its edge 19 on the flexible lip 27 when the caseis closed.

The case depicted in FIG. 4 differs from the previous ones in thestructure of the cup, which has the reference 45.

This cup 45 bears a seal 46 which has an annular lip 47 which connectsto a skirt 48 which presses against the wall of the housing 4 so thatthe cup can be mounted in sealed manner and retained by friction in thecase body 2.

The flexible lip 47 and the skirt 48 are made as a single piece ofelastomer, the skirt 48 furthermore being overmoulded onto a ring 49made of a relatively rigid plastic and provided at its upper end with arim 50 projecting radially inwards to serve for the attachment of themesh 13.

A second ring 52 which be made of the same plastic as the first isforce-fitted into the latter, bearing at its upper end against the rim50.

A flexible bottom 53 is fixed to the lower end of this ring 52.

The case depicted in FIG. 5 comprises a cup which bears the reference55.

This cup 55 carries a seal 56 comprising a flexible annular lip 57 madeas a single piece with a skirt 58 and with the bottom 59 of the cup.

The skirt 58 presses in sealed manner against the wall of the housing 4.

It is overmoulded onto a ring 60, made of a relatively rigid plastic,equipped at its lower end with a rim 61 pointing radially inwards and onthe lower face of which the bottom 59 is fixed at its periphery.

A second ring 62, made of a relatively rigid plastic, is force-fittedinto the first ring and at its upper end has a rim 64 pointing radiallyoutwards and serving for the attachment of the mesh 13.

FIG. 6 illustrates yet another way of producing the cup, which in thisfigure bears the reference 65.

The cup 65 comprises a seal 66 integral with the body 67 of the cup andmade of a relatively rigid plastic.

The housing 4 in the case body 2 has a bulge 68 which allows thesnap-fastening of the body 67.

The body 67 connects at the bottom to a bottom 69 made of flexibleplastic, for example elastomer.

A piston 70 is mounted inside the body 67, underneath the product P.

A block of foam 71 is inserted between the mesh 13 and the product P tomake dispensing more uniform.

FIGS. 7 to 15 illustrate various ways of sealing the mounting of the cupin the case body 2 and of sealing the case when the lid is closed.

In the example of FIG. 7, the seal comprises an annular lip 72 which isgenerally semi-circular in cross section, the descending part 73 of thislip pressing against an annular rib 74 made as a projection from theupper face of the case body 2.

An annular groove 75 is formed around this rib 74.

The lid comprises an annular rib 79 which presses in sealed manneragainst the descending part 73, as depicted in FIG. 7, when the case isclosed.

It will be noted in this figure that the free end 76 of the lip is notcompressed, because of the presence of the groove 75.

In the alternative form depicted in FIG. 8, the sealing lip 72 presseson an annular rib 80 projecting from the case body and the lid has twoannular ribs 81 and 82 of respective diameters greater than and smallerthan that of the rib 80, pressing in sealed manner against the lip 72when the lid is closed.

The pressing of the lip 72 on the rib 80 seals the mounting of the cupin the case body when the case is closed, and the pressing of the ribs81 and 82 on the lip 72 seals the closing of the lid.

In the alternative form of FIG. 9, the rib 81 is replaced by the edge 83of the lid, which advantageously presses against the free end 76 of thesealing lip, as illustrated.

In the embodiment of FIG. 10, the seal, referenced 86, comprises aperipheral part which in cross section has the overall shape of aninverted U comprising two arms 87, 88 connected by an outwardly convexrounded part 89.

The two arms 87, 88 are housed in a groove 90 of the case body 2 andseal the mounting of the cup in the case body.

The lid may have a projecting element 91 consisting for example of aseal as depicted in FIG. 11, pressed in sealed manner against therounded part 89 so as to seal the closing of the case.

The arm 87 may, in an alternative form, be slightly shorter than the arm88, as illustrated in FIG. 12, which allows for greater deformation ofthe seal when the lid is closed.

In the alternative forms of FIGS. 13 to 15, the seal, which overallbears the reference 96 and which is depicted separately in FIG. 14,comprises a peripheral part which in cross section has undulations whichdefine a central annular groove 97 in which a rib 98 of the lid isengaged in sealed manner when the case is closed.

The seal 96 therefore presses via its lower ridge 99 against the casebody, and this seals the mounting of the cup.

The seal 96 defines annular grooves which are open towards the casebody, comprising discontinuous stiffening ribs 102 and 103, asillustrated in FIG. 15.

These stiffening ribs 102 and 103 press against the case body 2 asillustrated in FIG. 13.

A groove 104 is made in the case body between the zones against whichthe ribs 102 and 103 rest, to house the ridge 99.

When the seal comprises a peripheral part which in cross section has ashape which overall is concave towards the case body, it is possible, asillustrated in FIG. 16, to produce stiffening webs 110 on the interiorsurface of the seal, which webs may be useful when the lid is sealedwhen the case is closed by means of the lid pressing against the seal.

The stiffening webs 110 may extend as depicted in FIG. 16 across theentire width of the concave part of the seal or, as an alternative, mayextend over just part of its width, as illustrated in FIGS. 17 or 18.

In FIG. 17, the stiffening webs, which bear the reference 111, aretruncated at their radially outermost end so as to allow the free end ofthe seal a certain amount of flexibility.

In the example of FIG. 18, the stiffening webs which bear the reference112, comprise a central recess 113 in the form of a triangular cutoutwhich allows the seal a certain amount of deformation about a hinge zonesituated at the apex of the cutout.

The stiffening element located inside the concave part of the peripheralpart of the seal may alternatively be in the form of a continuous ordiscontinuous annular rib 115, as illustrated in FIG. 19.

The lid may press on the seal both via its edge on the radiallyoutermost descending part 116 and via an annular rib 117 on the crown ofthe seal, as illustrated in FIG. 20.

As an alternative, as depicted in FIG. 21, just the edge of the lidpresses on the radially outermost part of the seal, which mayfurthermore not come into contact with the case body but simply flexdownwards.

FIG. 22 depicts a make-up case comprising a case body with a housingaccommodating a cup bearing, for example, a seal which has a peripheralpart as described with reference to FIG. 16.

The lid has an annular rib 113 which presses on the seal when the caseis in the closed position, this rib 113 surrounding a foam pad 114 whichcomes into contact with the mesh 13 to smooth the surface of the productwhen the case is closed.

The case body furthermore comprises a second housing accommodating anapplicator member E known per se.

FIGS. 23 to 25 illustrate an advantageous way of producing the hingewhich allows the lid to be articulated to the case body, irrespective ofthe latter's type.

As a preference, use is made of a pin 200 fixed to the body 2 of thecase and the ends of which protrude from the latter to act as pivots forthe lid.

More specifically, the said ends are engaged in two kidney bean slots201 in the lid 3, these slots 201 being made in cheeks 204 which aregenerally directed at right angles to the plane of the lid.

A clasp 205 is provided on the opposite side to the hinge, so as to keepthe lid in the closed position, in a way known per se.

When the case is open, as depicted in FIG. 23, the ends of the pin 200lie near the ends 202 of the slots 201 closest to the top of the lid.The pin 200 remains in the same position relative to the slots 201during the start of the phase of closing the lid, as long as the latteris not pressing on the seal, as illustrated in FIG. 24.

The seal may be one of the seals described earlier.

When the lid presses on the seal, the rotation of the lid is accompaniedby a sliding of the pin 200 in the slots 201 towards the ends 203furthest from the top of the lid, so that the latter pressessubstantially uniformly on the seal.

Of course, the invention is not restricted to the embodiments described.

In particular, the articulation between the lid and the case body andthe sealing of the mounting of the cup may be achieved in yet otherways, without departing from the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A case comprising a lid and a case body providedwith a traversing aperture, said aperture accomodating a cup containinga reserve of product, wherein said cup is extended by a seal, whereinsaid seal is pressing in a sealed manner against the case body, whereinthe seal comprises a skirt held by friction by a wall of said aperture,said skirt having axial ribs extending along an axis of said cup, saidaxial ribs being distributed around the periphery of the cup andpressing against said wall.
 2. A case comprising a lid and a case body,said case body being provided with a traversing aperture, said apertureaccomodating a cup containing a reserve of product, said case comprisinga separate seal of elastomeric material secured to the cup and pressingin a sealed manner against said case body, wherein the seal is securedto a relatively rigid plastic ring, and wherein said case body comprisesa mesh attached to said ring and extending over the cup.
 3. A casecomprising a lid and a case body, said case body accommodating a reserveof substance contained in a cup, wherein said cup is extended by a seal,wherein said case comprises a plastic ring secured to said seal, a meshattached to said ring and extending over the substance contained in thecup, said ring being made of a different material than the material fromwhich the seal is made.
 4. The case according to claim 3, wherein saidcase body is provided with a traversing aperture.
 5. The case accordingto claim 3, wherein said seal is pressing in a sealed manner againstsaid case body.
 6. The case according to claim 3, wherein said skirt isheld by friction by a wall of a housing of said case body accommodatingsaid cup.
 7. The case according to claim 3, wherein an annular surfaceis formed on the ring around the mesh to serve for the attachment of aremovable closure sheet.
 8. The case according to claim 3, wherein saidseal is overmoulded onto said ring.
 9. The case according to claim 3,wherein said lid presses in a sealed manner onto said seal when said lidis in a closed position.
 10. The case according to claim 3, wherein saidseal comprises a flexible lip.
 11. The case according to claim 10,wherein said seal comprises at the base of said flexible lip a heelwhich contacts in a sealed manner said case body.
 12. The case accordingto claim 10, wherein said flexible lip presses in a sealed manneragainst said case body.
 13. The case according to claim 10, wherein saidflexible lip presses in a sealed manner against the case body at theperiphery of said flexible lip, even when the case is open.
 14. The caseaccording to claim 10, wherein said flexible lip is in contact with arib projecting from said case body.
 15. The case according to claim 14,wherein said flexible lip presses in a sealed manner against said rib.16. The case according to claim 14, wherein said lid comprises a rib oflarger diameter than the rib of said case body, said rib of largerdiameter pressing against the flexible lip when the case is in a closedposition.
 17. The case according to claim 10, wherein said lid contactson the flexible lip when the case is in a closed position without anappreciable compression of a free end of said flexible lip.
 18. The caseaccording to claim 3, wherein said lid comprises two concentric annularribs of respective diameters smaller than and greater than that of anannular rib projecting from said case body, and which press against aflexible annular lip of the seal one on each side of said annular rib.19. The case according to claim 10, wherein the lid, when in a closedposition, presses via the periphery of said lid against said flexiblelip.
 20. The case according to claim 3, wherein said seal comprises aperipheral part which in cross section has the overall shape of aninverted U comprising two arms housed in a groove of the case body andconnected by an outwardly convex rounded part.
 21. The case according toclaim 20, wherein said lid comprises a projecting element which, via alower end, is in contact with the outwardly convex rounded part whensaid lid is in a closed position.
 22. The case according to claim 3,wherein said seal comprises a peripheral part which in cross section hasundulations and is in contact via a lower ridge against the case body.23. The case according to claim 22, wherein said seal defines twoannular grooves facing towards the case body, said annular grooves lyingone on each side of a central groove facing towards the lid when thecase is closed, and wherein said seal comprises further, at the bottomof the grooves that face towards the case body, rests molded integrallywith said seal, said rests resting against the case body.
 24. The caseaccording to claim 23, wherein said lid comprises an annular rib whichengages in said central groove when the case is closed.
 25. The caseaccording to claim 3, wherein said seal comprises a peripheral partwhich in cross section has a shape which overall is concave towards thecase body, and wherein at least one stiffening element is providedinside the concave shape of said peripheral part.
 26. The case accordingto claim 3, wherein said seal comprises a plurality of stiffeningelements extending radially and moulded integrally with the seal. 27.The case according to claim 25, wherein said seal comprises a stiffeningelement in the form of a continuous annular rib extending over theentire height of the peripheral part.
 28. The case according to claim25, wherein said seal comprises a stiffening element in the form of adiscontinuous annular rib extending over the entire height of theperipheral part.
 29. The case according to claim 3, wherein either thelid or the case body comprises at least one kidney bean slot and whereineither the case body or the lid, respectively, comprises a hinge pinengaged in the kidney bean slot, the arrangement of the kidney bean slotand of the hinge pin being such that when the lid is closed, the hingepin can move in the kidney bean slot so that the lid pressessubstantially uniformly against the seal.
 30. The case according toclaim 3, wherein said seal has an outer peripheral edge, said outerperipheral edge, at least in an open position of said case, being spacedfrom said case body.
 31. The case according to claim 3, wherein at leastpart of said seal, in an open position of said case, is separated fromthe case body by a free space, said free space extending both on aninner side and on an outer side of a portion of the case body which, atleast when the case is in a closed position, is in contact with saidseal.
 32. The case according to claim 3, wherein said seal, at least inan open position of said case, is separated from the case body by a freespace, said seal having an outer peripheral edge which is at a fixedposition with respect to said case body.
 33. The case according to claim3, wherein said seal is contacting the lid through an elastic memberformed on said lid.
 34. The case comprising a lid and a case body, saidcase body having a housing accommodating a cup containing a reserve ofsubstance, said cup being extended by a seal, wherein said sealcomprises a skirt which is held by friction by a wall of said housing,wherein said skirt has axial ribs extending along the axis of said cupand wherein said axial ribs are distributed around said cup.
 35. Thecase according to claim 34, wherein said housing is provided with atraversing aperture.
 36. The case according to claim 34, wherein saidseal is pressing in sealed manner against said case body.
 37. The caseaccording to claim 34, wherein said case comprises a plastic ring aroundwhich said seal extends.
 38. The case according to claim 37, wherein anannular surface is formed on said ring to serve for the attachment of aremovable closure sheet.
 39. The case according to claim 37, whereinsaid seal is overmoulded onto said ring.
 40. The case according to claim34, wherein said lid presses in a sealed manner onto said seal when saidlid is in a closed position.
 41. The case according to claim 34, whereinsaid seal comprises a flexible lip.
 42. The case according to claim 41,wherein said seal comprises at the base of said flexible lip a heelwhich contacts in a sealed manner said case body.
 43. The case accordingto claim 41, wherein said flexible lip presses in a sealed manneragainst said case body.
 44. The case according to claim 41, wherein saidflexible lip presses in a sealed manner against the case body at theperiphery of said lip, even when the case is open.
 45. The caseaccording to claim 41, wherein said flexible lip is in contact with arib projecting from said case body.
 46. The case according to claim 45,wherein said flexible lip presses in a sealed manner against said rib.47. The case according to claim 45, wherein said lid comprises a rib oflarger diameter than the rib of said case body, pressing against theflexible lip when the case is in a closed position.
 48. The caseaccording to claim 41, wherein said lid presses on the flexible lip whenthe case is in a closed position without an appreciable compression of afree end of said flexible lip.
 49. The case according to claim 34,wherein said lid comprises two concentric annular ribs of respectivediameters smaller than and greater than that of an annular ribprojecting from said case body, and which press against a flexibleannular lip of the seal one on each side of said annular rib.
 50. Thecase according to claim 41, wherein the lid, when in a closed position,presses via the periphery of said lid against the flexible lip.
 51. Thecase according to claim 34, wherein said seal comprises a peripheralpart which in cross section has the overall shape of an inverted Ucomprising two arms housed in a groove of the case body and connected byan outwardly convex rounded part.
 52. The case according to claim 51,wherein said lid comprises a projecting element which, via a lower end,is in contact with the outwardly convex rounded part when said lid is ina closed position.
 53. The case according to claim 34, wherein said sealcomprises a peripheral part which in cross section has undulations andis in contact via a lower ridge against the case body.
 54. The caseaccording to claim 53, wherein said seal defines two annular groovesfacing towards the case body, said annular grooves lying one on eachside of a central groove facing towards the lid when the case is closed,and wherein said seal comprises further, at the bottom of the groovesthat face towards the case body, rests molded integrally with said seal,said rests resting against the case body.
 55. The case according toclaim 54, wherein said lid comprises an annular rib which engages insaid central groove when the case is closed.
 56. The case according toclaim 34, wherein said seal comprises a peripheral part which in crosssection has a shape which overall is concave towards the case body, andwherein at least one stiffening element is provided inside the concaveshape of the peripheral part.
 57. The case according to claim 34,wherein said seal comprises a plurality of stiffening elements extendingradially and moded integrally with the seal.
 58. The case according toclaim 57, wherein said seal comprises a stiffening element in the formof a continuous annular rib extending over the entire height of theperipheral part.
 59. The case according to claim 57, wherein said sealcomprises a stiffening element in the form of a discontinuous annularrib extending over the entire height of the peripheral part.
 60. Thecase according to claim 34, wherein either the lid or the case bodycomprises at least one kidney bean slot and wherein either the case bodyor the lid, respectively, comprises a hinge pin engaged in the kidneybean slot, the arrangement of the kidney bean slot and of the hinge pinbeing such that when the lid is closed, the hinge pin can move in thekidney bean slot so that the lid presses substantially uniformly againstthe seal.
 61. The case according to claim 34, wherein said seal has anouter peripheral edge, said outer peripheral edge, at least in an openposition of said case, being spaced from said case body.
 62. The caseaccording to claim 34, wherein at least part of said seal, in an openposition of said case, is separated from the case body by a free space,said free space extending both on an inner side and on an outer side ofa position of the case body which, at least when the case is in a closedposition, is in contact with said seal.
 63. The case according to claim34, wherein said seal, at least in an open position of said case, isseparated from the case body by a free space, said seal having an outerperipheral edge which is at a fixed position with respect to the casebody.
 64. The case according to claim 34, wherein said seal iscontacting the lid through an elastic member formed on said lid.